From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The testing and development of vehicle components like tyres, clutch, steering, brakes, and fan.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0167 | |
| Date | 30th November 1935 | |
| -3- (11) Tyre Noise. This is a very difficult problem. A tyre can be made that is relatively silent on smooth roads, but it will not wear well nor is it a good non-skid. It may also be noisy on setts. If we insulate the road springs from the frame by using rubber shackles, as is done on the Cadillac, the tyre noise is reduced but the directional stability of the car suffers. We are still working on the problem. (12) Clutch. We have both Borg & Beck centre plates and Long centre plates on test, and should shortly be able to report on them. (13) Steering. We have proved both by measurement and by repeated changeover tests on the road, that the original La{L. A. Archer} Salle steering which gave such good results is altogether better for insulating the steering wheel from road shocks than anything we have been able to reproduce from our own designs. The reason for this is still somewhat obscure. We are asking Grylls to bring another La{L. A. Archer} Salle steering over to see if they are consistently good, and at the same time are seeing if we cannot use the actual La{L. A. Archer} Salle proportions on the SpectreCodename for Phantom III. (14) Brakes. We have to retract the remarks made in our last notes in which we said that the Ph.III brake system was just as good as the Ph.II. We find that the Ph.III drums want stiffening up to avoid sponge. This is now being done. (15) Fan. The Rolls-Royce adaptation of the Cadillac fan has been tested in France, and Hancock gives a very good report of it. This should be satisfactory for the final car. | ||